Salvador Sobral: 'It is terrible that the suffering of the Palestinians does not end'
Portuguese artist Salvador Sobral, who won the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Amar Pelos Dois," met with music lovers in Istanbul. Speaking before the concert, Sobral said, "It is a terrible thing that the suffering these people have endured for decades does not end."
AA
Giving his first concert in Istanbul at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall (CRR), Salvador Sobral made statements before the event.
Pointing out that his interest in music began in his childhood, Sobral said, "I grew up listening to The Beatles with my father. The lyrics were very important. The Beatles were our path in music. When I started listening to music on my own, I began listening to Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. Then came jazz, and then hip-hop."
'I CANNOT SEE A WAY OUT FOR THE PALESTINIANS'
Calling for a free and independent Palestine, Sobral said, "I think what is happening in Gaza is terrible. Unfortunately, I cannot see a way out for the Palestinians. It is terrible... I just read that some Palestinians died trying to retrieve food that fell into the ocean. Are they just seeing this now? This will never end. It is a terrible thing that the suffering these people have endured for decades does not end."
The Portuguese artist emphasized that he enjoys interpreting the local music of the countries he visits, adding that he is a fan of Aşık Veysel's (Şatıroğlu) song "Uzun İnce Bir Yoldayım" and included it in his repertoire for the concert.
Touching on the interest of his Turkish fans, Sobral said, "I last gave a concert in Ankara and I was amazed by the interest. People in Istanbul are also very passionate. They are very passionate about life, food, and other things. I think they feel music in the same way."
STAYED ON STAGE FOR 70 MINUTES
Salvador Sobral was accompanied at the concert by Lucia Fumero on piano, Magali Sare on flute, Andre Rosinha on double bass, Joel Silva on percussion, and Andre Santos on guitar.
The artist, who performed a repertoire consisting of his beloved works, primarily from his "Timbre" album, stayed on stage for approximately 70 minutes.
Sobral won first place with 758 points at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest held in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, with the song "Amar Pelos Dois," written by his sister Luisa Sobral.